Discharge creates foul black water in Niagara River
Water near the base of the Horseshoe Falls turned an alarming shade of black Saturday afternoon following a foul-smelling discharge from a wastewater treatment plant on the U.S. side.
The Niagara Falls Water Board, in Niagara Falls, N.Y., said the discharge was part of routine maintenance of one of its wastewater sedimentation basins.
Both the Maid of the Mist and Rainbow Air took to social media Saturday to express their concerns, posting a video and photograph of the dark, sludgy-looking water.
“Why the smelly black discharge into Niagara River on very busy tourist weekend?” the Maid of the Mist posted on Twitter and asking the Niagara Falls, N.Y., mayor for answers.
Video taken from Rainbow Air’s helicopter showed black-coloured water along the U.S. shoreline below the falls.
The inky water enveloped the Maid of the Mist dock.
Kevin Keenan, of the Maid of the Mist, on Monday referred media inquiries to the City of Niagara Falls, N.Y., and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Niagara Falls Water Board executive director Rolfe Porter said in a press release Sunday the dark water contained accumulated solids and carbon residue within permitted limits and did not include any organic oils or solvents. The release described the odour as “normal sewer water discharge smell.”
“We apologize for causing alarm to residents, tourists and others,” Porter said.
The black water dissipated by Sunday.
Niagara Parks Commission chairwoman Janice Thomson said the agency is looking into the incident to determine what measures are in place with stakeholders regarding future drainage occurrences.